A code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 review.
No video game franchise is as important to me as Metal Gear. All five of the series’ main entries (as well as its various spin-off titles) have been a major part of my life. I first discovered it in 2001 when I stumbled across a demo disc for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. I played it religiously and knew every nook and cranny of the tanker, even though I didn’t quite understand its story and complex themes.
That was 22 years ago. The series has long since concluded and its creator, Hideo Kojima, has moved on to other things. But my fond memories of the Metal Gear franchise never faded. So, when Konami announced that Metal Gear Solid, Sons of Liberty, and Snake Eater were to be re-released as part of a Master Collection, I could barely contain my excitement. The prospect of revisiting these games — which have been stuck in the seventh generation since 2012 — was something of a dream come true.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 (presumably the first of two volumes) contains the first three MGS instalments, as well as the original Metal Gear from 1987 and its sequel Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Also included are Metal Gear‘s non-canon NES port and its sequel Snake’s Revenge.
It would be inaccurate to describe the games in this bundle as remasters. They aren’t. The Master Collection is exactly what it says — a collection. Essentially, these Metal Gear games are just re-releases. And that’s far from a bad thing — most fans will be pleased just to play them on modern hardware. But the Master Collection undoubtedly represents a missed opportunity.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 review – Story
In 2023, the overarching Metal Gear narrative holds up incredibly well. While these games include some themes and attitudes that will be rightly considered inappropriate and outdated, they do little to dampen the overall experience.
Players can begin with Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake if they choose. These chapters are canon and constantly referenced in later titles, but they are far from essential and contain plot inconsistencies. However, keen Metal Gear fans wanting to soak up every bit of lore possible will benefit from checking them out.
Of course, Metal Gear Solid and its sequels are what this Master Collection is really all about. Thankfully, their tales of conspiracy, espionage, shadow governments, and the supernatural still deliver. In fact, Sons of Liberty (often credited online for predicting the future) feels like a tale set in 2023 rather than 2007/2009.
Its foretelling of the rise of artificial intelligence and the proliferation of digital information and social media is unparalleled. As long-time Metal Gear fans dive back in, I expect many will be awe-struck by just how effectively Hideo Kojima realised a world dominated by malevolent technology.
Ultimately, however, it was Metal Gear‘s messages of hope and morality that cemented the series in the hearts of gamers. And these have not been lost. Despite the violence, death, and destruction present in all of these titles, fighting for what you believe in and building a better tomorrow for future generations remains the entire point of the stories.
Performance
In 2012, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection upgraded MGS2 and MGS3 to meet the standards expected of the day. Unfortunately, little has been done to improve these games any further.
On PS5, they output at 1080p and run at a smooth and consistent 60 FPS. But given the power wielded by the PS5, Konami’s decision to simply repackage 2012’s version of these games is somewhat questionable. It’s unclear why extra effort wasn’t made to push these two-decade-old titles to 4K.
Similarly, they lack proper DualSense support and even display HD Collection logos during loading screens. While these points may seem minor, they solidify that the Master Collection is merely a port of these titles and not, in any way, a remaster.
Helpfully, Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater were among the best looking games of their generation. Their visuals still look great, all considered. But they lack any additional improvements that the PS5 could make possible.
Where this is most glaring is in Metal Gear Solid. Make no mistake, this is the same game that was released in 1998. Locked at 30 FPS and stuck in an ancient 4:3 aspect ratio, it feels every bit of 25 years old. Despite being Sons of Liberty‘s senior by just three years, it feels considerably older.
It has received almost zero quality-of-life improvements. Sure, you can pick a nice wallpaper to fill those ugly black sidebars. But its graphics are just as rough as ever, complete with jagged lines and heavy pixelisation. Its controls remain frustratingly clunky and audio quality is inconsistent.
Naturally, this will do little to dissuade Metal Gear fans like myself from playing — and it shouldn’t. Metal Gear Solid is still a truly remarkable game that revolutionised the medium. But there is no question that more could have been done to bring this beloved title into 2023 and make it more accessible to a new generation of gamers.
Throughout my time with the Master Collection, bugs and glitches were practically non-existent. Whether this level of polish can be credited to Virtuous or Kojima Productions is up for debate. But in an era where games are regularly released in poor condition and fixed later, it was a pleasant reminder of a time before day one patches and routine updates.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 review – Verdict
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is a treat for fans of the legendary stealth series. Playing through these classic titles is as fun as ever, and the stories they tell remain as impactful as they are fanciful.
With no technical issues to speak of, the Master Collection is a testament to a bygone area. Furthermore, players will be pleased to see that Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, and Metal Gear Solid now have trophy support, meaning coveted platinum trophies can now be attained for every mainline game in the franchise.
Despite this, the absence of additional enhancements is curious and frustrating. Modern hardware is capable of so much more than what this package delivers and the Master Collection will leave players wanting.
With that being said, the Master Collection acts more like a digital museum than the remaster many will have expected. It comes complete with original manuals, master books, and screenplay books, all of which are a joy to read.
This compilation isn’t quite what it could have been, but it is a worthy tribute to an iconic series beloved by millions. While it won’t blow you away, rest assured that it delivers the exact Metal Gear experience you remember. Bring on Vol. 2.
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Version played: PS5
Do you agree with our Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 review? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
